"These are truly remarkable, highly intelligent creatures that clearly have some very strong emotions," he said. Karlson hopes people respond to his story with intrigue and fascination rather than fear. "I remember being asked on many occasions by other students about the Australian animals that regularly make headlines in the USA - our deadly snakes, spiders, great white sharks, and crocodiles - never could I have imagined featuring in one of those articles!" he said. Karlson's experience has made headlines around the world, to his surprise.Īs a geology student, Karlson attended Cornell University on a student exchange year in 2007-2008. On March 18, 34-year-old Lance Karlson was walking on the beach andlooking for somewhere to swim with his two-year-old daughter in Geographe Bay, a popular snorkeling spot about 140 miles south. "Like all octopuses, it is venomous, but like most, it is harmless to humans, with the venoms dramatically more potent on invertebrates like clams and lobster," he said. Lance Karlsonĭespite the shock of Karlson's attack, Bryan Fry, an associate professor at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Queensland, told CNN that octopuses generally don't pose a risk to humans. Lance Karlson is now completely fine following his octopus encounter. When threatened, octopuses squirt out an ink-like substance, and Karlson believes he may have been unknowingly in the creature's home. I can only describe it as a 'whipping' sensation followed by a stinging." "I was then struck a second time, more forcefully, across my neck and upper back. "My goggles became fogged, the water was suddenly murky, and I remember being shocked and confused," he said. Octopus lashes out at man on Australia beach NOW PLAYING My goggles became fogged, the water was suddenly murky and I remember being shocked and confused, explains Lance Karlson. The former lifeguard left the octopus in peace and went to set up a tent further along the beach for his wife and daughter.Ībout 20 minutes later, Karlson was swimming in the sea on his own (having swum there "many times" before) when the octopus came back - while looking at crab shells in water about 1.5 metres deep, Karlson was whipped across his left arm. Keep in mind that I was with my daughter, and I think any dad would relate to being more protective of her than fearful of the threat," said Karlson. I had not encountered an octopus this close before, so at the time, I was mostly intrigued. "My response to the first encounter which I caught on film was shock, followed by fascination. "The octopus lashed out at us, which was a real shock," he told Insider. He didn't go to the hospital and said on his Instagram stories that he's fine now, that the pain and marks were just temporary.Karlson filmed some footage of the octopus and posted it on Instagram, which has now been viewed more than 221,000 times. An octopus lashed out at a beachgoer in Dunsborough, Western Australia on March 18.Lance Karlson, who shot this footage, told Storyful he spotted the octopus attacking a seagull and brought his. "I wasn't sure if Coke would work," he said, "but considering how acidic it is, I figured it was worth a shot." "It seems to fit." Karlson, a geologist for 13 years, and his family fled back to their hotel suite, struggling to locate some vinegar, in search of anything acidic to treat his wounds. Related Article: Singapore Beachgoer Stung By Stingray Gives Scary Warning After Hospitalization Karlson swam back to shore, some 25 meters away, but his arm, leg, and upper back were covered with stinging red raised imprints from experience. Octopuses squirt an ink-like liquid when attacked, and Karlson claims he might have been unwittingly in the creature's house. I can only characterize it as a stinging accompanied by a 'whipping' feeling." "I was then slapped a second time around the neck and upper back, this time with greater intensity. "My goggles fogged up, the water became murky, and I was shocked and confused," he explained. Karlson was floating in the sea on his own about 20 minutes later (having swum there "many years" before) when the octopus reappeared - he was whipped around his left arm when gazing at crab shells in water about 1.5 meters deep. 2021 Geologist and author Lance Karlson was attacked by an octopus in Geographe. The former lifeguard left the octopus behind and went to put up a shelter for his wife and daughter farther down the beach. The Heartwarming Tale of a Man Who Befriended an Octopus WebSep 18. Remember, I was with my daughter, and I'm sure every father can relate to being more defensive of her than afraid of the danger, "Karlson said. I had never seen an octopus up close before, but I was more fascinated at the moment. "My initial reaction to the experience, which I was able to capture on video, was horror, accompanied by curiosity.
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